Five youths, including one who was just 16, pulled out guns and fired at one another at around 12:41 pm, injuring two, striking a passing taxi, some cars, and a nearby residence, according to court documents.

Tyler Frank Jamison, 16, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder in connection with the case. He appeared briefly in Alameda County Court on Tuesday and is scheduled to return April 10. Although he is a juvenile, Jamison, who attended B-Tech in 2010-2011, is being tried as an adult. Tyrone Anthony Terell, 18, has been charged with a weapons violation.

Berkeley Police responded to Sacramento Street in December after neighbors reported the sound of gunshots and the sight of two men fleeing. At the time, police officials told the press that a shooter or shooters had fired at two youths walking along Sacramento Street. Police did not know on Dec. 23 how many assailants were involved.

The two victims later went to Children’s Hospital in Oakland for treatment. One had been shot in the buttocks, and was treated and released. The other suffered gunshot wounds to his ankle, buttocks, and abdominal area and was admitted for treatment. His wounds were serious, but not life threatening, according to police.

It turns out that three young men on Sacramento Street pulled out guns and started firing at the two other men, according to court documents. As the three men fired at the fleeing pair, the two men pulled out their own guns and returned fire. Bullets hit nearby cars and houses, as well as the two victims, who ran southbound on Sacramento Street to escape. The three assailants ran north on Sacramento Street, turning east on Woolsey and then south through an apartment complex.

“The route the three suspects used to flee would have put them in the rear yard of Jamison’s residence,” Berkeley Detective Todd Sabins wrote in court documents.

There were at least 20 evidence markers at the site shortly after the shooting, indicating that a large number of bullets had been fired. Lt. Andrew Greenwood said at the time they did not all mark bullet casings.

So these two were in the group of three that began shooting? Have charges been filed against the two victims who also discharged firearms in a residential area?

BTW, thanks to BPD for their efforts in this and other cases.

bgal4

Well, DUH!

And when will city council truly acknowledge the public safety threats the community endures.

The Sharkey

Probably not until we fully replace the City Council, unfortunately.

PragmaticProgressive

Police did not know on Dec. 23 how many assailants were involved.

So when did they determine that there were five shooters? Surely it didn’t take until March 7th! Do we know anything about the 3 that got away and are presumably still at large? Any description at all?

http://www.spot.us digidave

What time of day did this take place?

http://www.spot.us digidave

Nevermind – read closer. Crazy!

bgal4

Not that uncommon, and not surprising.

The BHS parents who admonished some of us in the comments thread about the Oakland resident involved in a border shooting before classes start at BHS, should think a bit harder before attacking informed community members as lacking compassion for gangster culture.

Tim

trace the guns, and jail the sources.

bgal4

Filing off serial numbers on illegal guns is very common.

Frances Dinkelspiel

Two of the three assailants were arrested on Jan. 13th. Berkeley police did not put out a release but gave Berkeleyside the information when we asked on Jan. 23. I did inquire to police about the reasons behind the 10-day delay, but did not get an answer. The rest of the info was from court documents. The PIO, Mary Kusmiss, was on vacation when this happened, which may be one reason the info has come out slowly.

http://berkeley.accountableschools.com/ Berkeley Accountable Schools

Right on. As I’ve said many times, Berkeley has plenty of problems that unfold within its own borders without importing additional challenges.

bgal4

The arrest information was provided to south Berkeley residents by the BPD Area Coordinator during a Jan 23 meeting. Since BPD would not provide names and charges claiming ongoing investigation, I searched the Chronicle arrests data and the Alameda County Inmate Locator for to identify those arrested and what charges were filed.
I sent this info to B-Side.

I do not fault the rank and file, the decisions on when and how the police share public information comes has always been control by the city manager and city attorney offices.

In 2003 SBCPC brought the AC DA to a large meeting with then Chief Meisner and the entire brass, the DA stated that city was not prohibited from sharing this information as we were made to believe.

Tor

My councilman, Darryl Moore, is all over public safety issues. Several times, the first notice I’ve had about specific crimes in my neighborhood is when Darryl calls a neighborhood meeting and makes BPD come down to tell us all about it.

Crime, particularly violent crime, is way down in Berkeley. Apart from reducing crime, what specifically would you like the council to do with regard to public safety?

Tor

You should run. Of course, you’d have to use your real name. And come up with some sort of actual proposals.

The Sharkey

Sarcasm, the last refuge of the intellectually bankrupt.

Tor

More compelling ideas….

TN

I am increasingly bothered by the stinginess of BPD, the City and the DAs in releasing information about crimes, the victims, alleged perpetrators and the circumstances of the crimes. I understand that the police and the prosecutors have some needs to not reveal details for investigative and prosecutorial purposes. And I understand that the accused have legal rights to a fair trial which might preclude releasing all information. And then too victims have some rights to privacy.

But all in all here in Berkeley we seem to get very little information.

The sparseness of information affects us in many ways. What concerns me the most is that the lack of information discourages effective citizens’ participation. If people can’t understand what’s happening, they can’t effectively participate. And this results in apathy, withdrawal and cynicism.

Instead in typical Berkeley fashion, we get into dogmatic exchanges which rehashes worn out positions which are unmoored from the specific facts, the detailed realities of the crimes committed because they aren’t available. It is like seeing a bad movie for the 10th time. It is boring and the next time the dialogue will be identical.

Having more facts might help us focus our discussions, challenge assumptions and help find practical and politically viable policies to try out.

The Sharkey

More out of character harassment.

What’s up, Mr. Berg? Having a bad day?

Guest

Excellent points, TN. Well stated.

For most of our national history, the Fourth Estate offered some necessary checks and balances to public corruption, secretiveness and generally stonewalling of the public’s right to basic information.

Now, in my view, we no longer have a local media to provide any public scrutiny of the actions (or inactions) of public officials. So-called “community journalism” like Berkeleyside is better than nothing as a community gripe forum and as a (very?) limited source of local happenings and information, but it cannot function like a true news media outlet of old.

Some of the local television newscasts and to some extent more regional newspapers like the Chron or Trib shine some occasional light on some Berkeley events, but for the most part our elected or appointed officials and our city’s bloated, overpaid, do-nothing bureaucracy know they have carte blanche to get away with whatever furthers their own parochial interests without any public reprecussions. It’s difficult to imagine a plausible scenario in which any elected incumbent in Berkeley for any office could be turned of office. We are living in a “Democracy” in name only…

bgal4

I do not think you should be including the DA office in the list, we have found the office mostly very responsive.

As I mentioned before the DA office has provided support to a network of south Berkeley leaders in 2003 discussions with the city and police dept regarding public information sharing.

We made some progress but I think we have lost ground.
We used to receive bi-monthly arrest docket lists so we could write community impact letters to the judges and charging DA.

In high crime areas, information about probation, parole and stay away orders are very helpful.

Victims of crime need more support in obtaining information prior to hearings so they can present written statement as needed to the DA or Judge.

But most important for community policing problem solving beat cops and AC need monthly data to share directly with community groups.

We have been asking for this for at least a decade.

bgal4

Tor,
Ask Darryl if he knows about the strategies our group has been advocating for adoption. He does.
L. Menard

Frances Dinkelspiel

Gee, guest

While it is true that a local community website can in no way replicate the efforts and reach of newspapers during their heyday, one reason why Berkeleyside and other sites exist is because the Chronicle and Tribune have had deep layoffs that resulted in a drop in local reporting. As for Berkeleyside being a “(very) limited source of local happenings and information,” and “is better than nothing as a community gripe forum,” well yes and no. This story about the five men involved in a shooting is an example of independent reporting by Berkeleyside which has not appeared elsewhere. We have also led the way in reporting about medical marijuana dispensaries and gun incidents at Berkeley High.We have also reported on the pension fund situation. I suggest that if people want to see more and deeper news reporting they support Berkeleyside. Subscribe. Make a donation. Despite our ads this is still a mostly volunteer effort. We all take other jobs and do other writing in addition to our work on Berkeleyside. Plus, there is a lot of news in Berkeley to follow.
And our comments section serves a purpose other than griping. City council members, city officials, UC officials, all read it to get a sense of what people are thinking. There is griping but there is also a lot of positive and informative give and take.

Guest

Frances: Thank you for your comments and response. I suppose what I meant to say is that if the local powers that be, police or otherwise, don’t see fit to release certain information or stonewall the public’s right to know, the likelihood that a newsgathering portal like Berkeleyside (or any community journalism forum) could do real investigative journalism or disclose more information than the school district or the police dept. or city hall chooses to release is next to nil. Am I wrong about that, except, perhaps in some very exceptional case where an inside whistleblower might approach Berkeleyside to expose some type of public payola or corruption?

I don’t intend that as a “slam” in any way against Berkeleyside. Career, local journalists spent years cultivating inside and private sources. They also spent proverbial 80 hour weeks digging up stories, getting background and benefiting from professional editing. They were paid to do this full time. It was their profession. They probably also enjoyed certain access and privileges which their official press credentials entitled them to. As far as I know, citizen journalists or news bloggers are not necessarily accorded the same access to information (or not as consistently at least).

Berkeleyside therefore is performing an invaluable function. As best as it can, it is filling a huge void in community news. But all readers of news forums like Berkeleyside should be well aware that an entrenched city bureaucracy or long time crony politicians like Mayor Bates and his cohorts on the city council have absolutely nothing to fear from a neutered press which has no real capacity to disclose more information than officialdom chooses to reveal about itself. Therefore, no incumbent will ever be voted out of office in Berkeley. Realistically, until a political figure either retires or aims for higher or other office, only some type of real expose or public graft scandal has any chance of giving a new challenger a fighting chance to unseat an entrenched encumbent.

Fagboy

you guys need help

Fagboy

what about the two using self defense

bgal4

your comment and handle is RUDE and ignorant

Frances Dinkelspiel

Thanks for clarifying Guest. Most of the time, Berkeleyside does not wait for the powers that be to release information that we then write up. We decide on what stories to report and then go out and ask questions. FYI, the three of us who started the site could be considered career journalists. I have been writing for newspapers since 1982 and my work has appeared in places like the NYT and WsJ, as has Tracey’s. Lance was the editor of a business magazine in Europe. So I think we are qualified to report any news. We have less time and many fewer resources but that does not mean that we are accorded any less access and privileges than reporters in the mainstream media.

As for stories on “entrenched city bureaucracy” or “long time crony politicians,” we at Berkeleyside are always looking for stories about malfeasance. We are the new kids on the block but we are working hard to dig in whenever possible.

You seem to presume there is widespread public corruption just waiting to be revealed. I haven’t seen the Chronicle, the Tribune or any other traditional news outlet blow the cover on public graft in Berkeley. So it’s not a question of size.

Salope

Anyone who calls themselves “fagboy” loses their right to engage in this discussion, and not ’cause you’re anonymous, a fag or you’re a boy, but because it’s obvious you’re trying to instigate the indefensible. Go away.

Salope

So, Berkeleyside had to rely on this community member for information rather than be able to gather it on their own?

Salope

Easier said than done, Tim. As bgal4 says, filing serial numbers off is the norm, and thus it’s very hard to trace a gun to it’s source.

Johnson

Get a life, loser.

http://berkeleyside.com Tracey Taylor

Delete.

TizziLish

I am not a journalism professional but I am a life long (58 years & counting) member of communities. My strong, over-educated hunch (a masters and a doctorate) is that truly good journalism actually does emerge from the community and not solely from the professional journalist organizations such as Berkeleyside. It is something in Berkeleyside’s favor, a huge positive in my mind, that Berkeleyside not only listens to community members for information about the community Berkeleyside aspires to cover journalistially but that community members turn to Berkeleyside with tips and research. Like bgal4 states: “This is what community journalism looks like.”

Who do you want professional journalists paying attention to? Institutional power or members of the community? Or, here’s a concept, about about a blend of sources to make the journalism a better reflection of the whole?

It is a strength for any journalistic endeavor to rely on the communities it reports on, so thanks, Berkeleyside, for listening to bgal4’s research on this shooting and taking the story from there.

And salope: get a life, or learn how to think clearly or something.

PragmaticProgressive

I agree with you about “fagboy” but must tell you that I had the same reaction to your own pseudonym. As you surely know, “salope” is a very vulgar term and if you used its English equivalent (b—h and sometimes c–t), there would be objections for the same reasons you gave. During my time in francophone settings, I only ever heard that word used as a curse or to insult a specific woman (perhaps over a traffic matter). It has no place in civil discourse, as Rush Limbaugh is probably not learning from the uproar over his use of similar invectives.

You obviously chose it for some reason, but know that I cringe whenever I see it and I hope you’ll consider following the same standard that you championed in your post here.

PragmaticProgressive

What does he do that makes you say that he’s “all over” public safety issues? Calling a meeting with the department — OK. Anything else?

PragmaticProgressive

I think the point was that Bside needs to cultivate sources within government in addition to the PIO. Just printing PIO official statements and material from PIO press releases is not enough.

PragmaticProgressive

Frances,

I am trying — seriously — to recall a story about city hall or BUSD in which Bside juxtaposed the official story (as presented in press releases or public statements by officials) with dissenting views from within those same entities. I can’t think of a case where that’s come up.

Do you feel that you’ve cultivated relationships that would yield those sort of “background,” “off the record” insights? Or are you getting them and choosing not to publish them for some reason?

I would love to see more “watchdog journalism” in Berkeley. Is that something you are actually trying to offer or have you decided not to for some reason?

PragmaticProgressive

PS One pretty tame example of what I’m talking about: earlier I asked what was behind the delay in publicizing the alarming new facts about the Woolsey shooting. You indicated that you asked those questions and couldn’t get an answer but you didn’t include that in the article. I think that institutional reticence is significant and would like to see it reported, even if it’s just to say “The Department refused to comment when asked….”

Frances Dinkelspiel

Pragmatic Progressive, One example: I heard that the medical cannabis collective 40 Acres was operating in a commercial zone rather than residential zone. Everyone in the city knew it but was not really dealing with it, perhaps in hopes that the problem would go away. Berkeleyside published a number of stories on the situation (others had popped up) and eventually city officials took action on the situation. That was not a press release story.
As for comments on Bside about officials’ inconsistencies, many times they are more opinion than fact. We do use the comments to pursue stories. If the question is “Can Berkeleyside develop better sources inside government” the answer is of course yes.

Frances Dinkelspiel

We have asked the PD about the delay and never got a clear answer. I have expressed my concern directly to the chief. A reporter’s relationship with the police department is on going, so while there was a delay in this circumstance, they have acted quickly in many others.

Heather_W_62

Dear Pragmatic Progressive: After trying to change the moniker on Disqus for time, without sucess — I finally just deleted my account and started over. I used the Salope when I first signed up as a reply to another site in which I wanted to use that handle. I don’t really appreciate being spanked, however, as it is my business what I call myself. That said, I’d prefer not to offend anyone and would rather use my own name.

I am well aware of it’s meaning, just as I do the handle “batard” that someone else uses.

Heather_W_62

Salope has a life, as is evidenced by her (me) not replying until she got off work and finished all her chores and civic duties.

Thanks for the lecture, Tizzie. I hope your panties are now unbunched.

As to my original comment, I should have made it less caustic and more clear; why is it (as it appears to be) so difficult to BSide to get this kind of specific information? I know Laura M. has great resources, and I would hope that the BSide journalists are making some of the same connections for information.

PragmaticProgressive

Sorry if it came across as a “spank.” Of course you can call yourself what you like. But, since the question of inappropriate names came up, I felt compelled to say what the impact of your choice was on me, someone who usually agrees with you. Indeed, now that I can connect your new “handle” to your other writings, I’d say that in addition to agreeing with you, I have a lot of respect for you and your successes as a force for positive change in the community.

Heather_W_62

You were right about replying to F..B… using Salope… but I wanted to be able to edit. You see, I did listen to you!